I know, I know, it’s so horribly old-fashioned in a tablet world, but I am the happy owner of my second ASUS eee PC. It’s a perfect machine for traveling, whether to downtown or halfway across the world. Mine is loaded with the full version of Microsoft Office, so I can do any work I… [Read More]
Blog
One First National, in Cans
When I was in college, I had an internship at Sidley & Austin, a big law firm. The offices were in what was then known as One First National Plaza, home of the First National Bank of Chicago. Of all the buildings I’ve worked in, it’s my favorite: sweeping shape, huge open lobby, magnificent plaza… [Read More]
The Irish Pub Directory
I have a theory that every city of any size in the world has a Chinese restaurant, an Indian restaurant, an Irish bar, and a McDonald’s. Further confirmation emerged when I found The Irish Pubs Directory. A few places are missing, like the legendary Abbey Pub in Chicago (where I saw the Wolfe Tones, who… [Read More]
Paying for College: Admissions and Financial Aid
College admissions isn’t quite as difficult as most people think; once you get past the top 30 or whatever colleges, most students who are reasonably serious and reasonably prepared will be accepted. The real trick is paying for it. Different colleges have different approaches. Some colleges are need-blind: they draw up their freshman class without… [Read More]
Book Review: Money for Nothing, by Edward Ugel
I finished this book last night, and it was a lot of fun. Edward Ugel worked for several years at a company that bought annuities, especially lottery prizes. You see the commercials on TV by J.G. Wentworth and others; these long-term payment arrangements have cash value right now, and a lot of people would rather… [Read More]
